Game 99: Tigers (49-49) at Royals (45-54)
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 6:00 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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PrintDetroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals, Jul 21, 2008 8:10 PM EDT
Zach Miner (3-3, 4.23) vs. 
Luke Hochevar (6-7, 5.10)
As the Tigers try to claw back into the AL Central race, it seems appropriate that they have to face one of the teams that put them in this predicament to begin with. The Royals landed a punch squarely on the Tigers' chin at the very beginning of the season with a sweep at Comerica Park, and Detroit has been trying to recover ever since.
Zach Miner gets his first start of the year for the Tigers after a dry run in Toledo to allow him to work on all of his pitches. In four appearances with the Mud Hens (two starts), Miner posted an 0-1 record and 3.38 ERA, with 15 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. Before being sent down to Toledo, Miner had a 3-3 record and 4.23 ERA in 44 2/3 innings out of the Tigers' bullpen.
Luke Hochevar comes off what was probably his best start of the season, holding the Mariners to one run and five hits in seven innings. That effort follows two starts in which Hochevar was slammed for 13 runs in 10 innings by the Rays and Orioles, respectively. He attributes the turnaround to making adjustments once hitters have figured out what he likes to throw. But Hochevar shut the Tigers out over six innings the last time he faced them, so it's Detroit that will have to do the adjusting tonight.
Kansas City has won all six of its games against Detroit this year. And they've been dominant, outscoring the Tigers 26-11.
Royals Review has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.
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0-6, all in the first ten days of the season. A season which was supposed to be so glorious started out like some scene out of Dante’s Inferno….I mean, what level of hell would you put being swept by the kansas City Royals to start the season in?
But that was April, and April was a long time ago. The Royals started playing more like themselves for much of May and early June, before righting their own ship a bit lately. So which Royals team shows up? Or better yet, which Tigers team takes the field this week?
The Tigers need to put away team they are better than, put some distance between themselves and the .500 mark. This would be a good time to start that process….
Starting Lineups
DETROIT
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Carlos Guillen, 3B
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Matt Joyce, RF
6. Gary Sheffield, DH
7. Marcus Thames, LF
8. Pudge Rodriguez, C
9. Edgar Renteria, SS
KANSAS CITY
1. David DeJesus, CF
2. Mike Aviles, SS
3. Billy Butler, DH
4. Jose Guillen, RF
5. Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
6. Alex Gordon, 3B
7. Ross Gload, 1B
8. John Buck, C
9. Joey Gathright, CF
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 7:57 PM EDT reply actions
Time to take L'il Maybin for a walk
now that it has cooled below 90 freaking degree’s. OPRESSIVE…..kind of like the Tigers offense…..glad to see Guillen back. Maybe Inge should get some work at SS? I’ll be back….
Just a short hello @all. I’m too tired today to follow this game (and you know it’s 2:10 now here so I have the right to be tired :D). Maybe it’s good for the Tigers when I don’t see to much of this game and they can beat those Royals for the first time this season. Zach Miner as starter….hm hopefully the Mudhens Experience works for him, too.
Renteria batting 9th. Oh Man, we want Jair Jurrjens back, the Braves betrayed us . This man is useless in American League (so, that’s the right motivation for him :LOL )
Have a good time all
Greetings from Germany. Dirk
That is some late blog commenting
Get some sleep, Dirk!
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions
We need some runs early for Miner.
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Renteria..
Is this the first time he’s hit ninth? I cannot remember that happening yet this season.
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Looking ahead...
I know I’m jumping ahead, but something has been bothering me all day. The Tigers have a huge 3-game set with the Chi-Sox this weekend. Why wouldn’t Leyland switch up the rotation a bit? Currently, it’s Robertson, Verlander, and Miner to go against Floyd, Danks, and Vazquez.
Why, in such a big series, would the Tigs send out their #4 and #5 pitchers? Why wouldn’t you switch it up to have Verlander against Floyd, Robertson, and then Rogers? I realize that isn’t the best solution, but why wouldn’t Leyland have planned ahead right after the break?
Hey, welcome back
You were missed over the weekend.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
for what it's worth
I just traded for Todd Jones in a keeper league I’m in. So now his outing can be even more terrifying for me!
WHY?
would anyone trade for Jones in a keeper league? Did you give up Jason Grilli to get him?
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
oh okay
I’d take Jonesy as a throw in I suppose.
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Back from Baltimore...
where I was a witness to the 11-10 exercise in masochism. Hopefully tonight is less painful.
Our sympathies
If you need us, we’re listening.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Worst part was...
I had to miss a lot of Zoom’s good inning because a 10 year old next to me was explaining how he was both a Red Sox and Yankees fan.
That place is a launching pad. Nice, but a launching pad.
Renteria...
I think that’s the only way Renteria scores from second on a single. Worthless.
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Air mail!
Nice throw by Jose Guillen from RF.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 8:58 PM EDT reply actions
That is funny...
here in Chicago they were talking about how great Guillen’s arm is because he threw out AJ yesterday. Most of us could throw him out.
atta boy miguel...
make them pay.
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The Big Kitten?
Though I vote for “White Marcus Thames”
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
White Marcus Thames
is a pretty good one. I swear Tuffy, Suss, and myself had a good one lined up for him during the Big Tilde Editorial Retreat last Sunday…but I can’t recall it now.
How about the Silent Assassin?
Was 20 feet from him in left the other night and the guy didn’t change his focus point from the mound to home plate all night, unless a ball was hit to him. Didn’t jaw with fans, didn’t talk to Grandy, nothing. Focused. Iceman, perhaps?
YEah Joyce...
really make them pay. Boy does he have a nice swing.
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Eh-hem
6-0 lead in Baltimore. Ring any bells? Sorry to be a downer. I just expect disappointment lately.
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One difference (hopefully)
Nate (Far From Great) Robertson was on the mound Saturday.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions
great point.
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I've always thought that Miner was the epitome of a 4th starter
doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but can usually keep you in the game. That’s really what the Tigers need.
Da Meat Hook...
any of you see this, kind of sad….always liked Dmitri
http://www.nationalsenquirer.com/2008/07/not-just-anot-1.html
living outside DC and watching the Nats last year was like watching a bad Tigers team what with Dmitri, Nook Logan, and Robert Fick
Where have you gone Nate Cornejo
a nation turns it’s lonely eyes to you
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
Ya, I CAN imagine! Man, I hate Fick, but the Nookster? Steroids? What! I always liked Dmitri though, too bad he was a drunk diabetic at the end with us….
what's to hate about fick?
I used to love that guy.
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
yep.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously,
is there any reason Inge couldn’t be given a try there? He is more than athletic enough *(see Renterria).
I’d love to see Inge get consideration there, too.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 21, 2008 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Great point
Especially after his play to end the game on Sunday
hey I'm happy
before the season I thought Miner would be a key to the Tigers doing well. I just thought it’d be in the bullpen not as a starter.
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
Joyce Nicknames
Tried to find something relating to Joyce, but most the entries on wikipedia were of women, but a few are pretty funny:
Joyce Ohajah- british tv newsanchor
Joyce Trimmer- canadian politician
Joyce Chepchumba- Kenyan distance runner
Yootha Joyce- english actress
My favorite:
Stanislaus Joyce- Irish poet
worthless information for your everyday life…...
by dettigionswings'stons on Jul 21, 2008 9:32 PM EDT reply actions
I'm watching this game on my computer
And the KC announcer just had an awesome Tim McCarver moment:
They were discussing the Tiger’s top half of the third, and he said, “When you make bad defensive plays, your pitcher has to throw more pitches. When you make good defensive plays, your pitcher doesn’t throw as many pitchers.”
Thank you. No seriously, thank you for clearing that up.
when you see...
old timers like renteria and sheff screwing everything up, you wonder why teams ever thrown millions at old timers.
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Only one walk
about 2/3s of his pitches strikes. Nicely done Zach
(begins golf clap)
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
Joyce is unreal...
he has 23 total HR this season.
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What is his HR per at bat?
During the last series or maybe the one before the break he had 9 in 94 AB’s. Just wondering as you are Bilfer lite! (I say that in an endearing way)
hmmm...hold on, I'll find out...
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
joyce hr rate
MLB: 1 every 10.7 AB
Minors: 1 every 15.38 AB
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
O'fers...
Polanco, Thames, Shef, and Edgar all without a hit. I would think it would be hard for us to have 8 runs with those goose eggs, but hey! here we are….
how does renteria screw this up?
pop out on a 3-0 count?
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toledo won
and guess who they beat – Minnesota’s affiliate… small victories, I know. At least Clevlen had two more HR.
gotta love the 3 hitter by Miner – gotta love the walk in run even more
This is certainly a different Royals team than we saw earlier in the year…and a different Tigers team too I suppose
In Chicago...
Texas has the Sox down 5-1. Sox on a bit of a slide, this would be 3 straight at that bandbox of theirs. They are not healthy, and are showing signs of infighting.
We may be getting them at the right time...
like they got us in April. Pretty much everyone got us in April. And May.
Serious question
HOW THE HELL ARE THE TIGERS 0-6 SO FAR THIS YEAR AGAINST THIS TEAM? THE ROYALS ARE TERRIBLE!
at least they finally figured them out.
now if we just never had to face brian bannister again.
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Back from softball
Won 17-11 to go into second round of playoffs – I know – so what
Back on to toast tonights Tigers game…...Wow, if only the Lions could score this many..
I saw Thames was 0-3 :-(
Did he come close to hitting any out?
nope
2 k’s and a groundout. Marcus was nice enough to let Matt Joyce borrow his magic shoes tonight
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
Nothing like walking...
the backup shortstop. Yikes. Perhaps the bus to AAA is waiting for this poor guy right outside the clubhouse.
The KC announcers
are debating whether or not the Ump should widen his strike zone…...yes, it is that bad
it came from Kansas City
and it’s not very good. I wouldn’t get too excited about the Tigers offense, a lot of it might be bad pitching.
If the Tigers put up two runs tomorrow I might be sick.
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Jimmy'd never leave him in long enough
to give up more than 10 or 12
by pfuhrmeister on Jul 21, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
When was the last time
Pudge walked twice in one game?
by pfuhrmeister on Jul 21, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
June 22nd actually.
against San Diego.
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
In 2003...
while with the Marlins, he walked five times in one game.
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by spotstarters on Jul 21, 2008 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
poor dolsi.
he’s been getting hit hard lately.
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This is just lack of concentration
On Dolsi’s part
How many teams
Can take a 19 run lead into the bottom of the 8th and STILL have you tearing out your hair?
KC and Detroit all tied up now
Before Monday’s game, “Kansas City has won all six of its games against Detroit this year. And they’ve been dominant, outscoring the Tigers 26-11.”
With the 19-4 score, the runs are now even at 30-30. Too bad we couldn’t have distributed them better.
Just an aside, but did anyone notice that the same ump (Runge) that called Polanco out at the plate in the recent Birds game was the same ump that initially called Thames’ HR foul, but was overruled.
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